Staff Travel/Non Rev on QF
 

Traveling from DFW to SYD ON 5 July. Looks wide open with a lot of business class available. Does Qantas upgrade other airline employees ?

Thanks,
BF

It barely upgrades its own employees these days!

Business class will fill up as well, all the frequent flyers can bid for an upgrade and they are processed 48-24 hours prior to departure so the business class figure won't be totally accurate until the day of the flight. They generally won't upgrade staff unless your ticket has that priority attached to it.

Thanks for the info. Maybe I'll have a row to myself. The non-rev version of lay-flat seating :)

I know it's still a week away, but it doesn't look wide open down the back to me. You also have to remember that it is one of the world longest flights, into wind, to an airport in the middle of winter. Where your nearest alternate in an hour away. I wouldn't count my chicken yet.

If it was me, I'd go via LA every time due to weight restrictions.

Good luck.

Good to know, LAX is also in our plans. Winter winds are a factor every months of the year when traveling to the other hemisphere.

Thanks
Bf

80 or so Y seats are routinely blocked for that service and that doesn't reflect accurately on the loads. Count on Y only but if you do get on you will have plenty of space. Good luck

No they will definitely not upgrade you, the system won't even let them. Your only hope, if travelling alone, is to sweet talk the CSM

I wouldn't count on that either, it is not unheard of for a CSM to be dobbed in by a junior cabin crew member for doing a favour for staff travelers.

Only if your category has "/J" or "/P" after the bookable class.

Keep SFO-SYD in mind as a fall back option too. Sometimes LAX flights fill up more quickly for some reason.

Oddly, if you're looking at economy loads, the QF system of upgrading frequent flyers actually works in your favour. At -24hrs if there are any business or premium seats available, they will usually be taken by people who were previously occupying an economy seat, thus freeing the seat up for you.

If you haven't already, check out http://stafftraveler.com - very useful for obtaining loads for interline carriers.

Wefly737s - Not sure how you could do it as most companies may show you the booked load, (unusual), but they are unlikely to show you other staff listed for the same flight and their boarding priority. Other staff may have been trying for a day or two to get back to Australia. Possibly the best you can hope for is a booking staff member will look at the load and give an estimate of your chances, e.g. reasonable, tight or hopeless etc. Best of luck, if it were me I would go to SFO or LAX, (and other staff may do the same!).

Jumpseat with United. FedEx and atlas also have some good options

And that won't work either.

Has for me mrdeaux, admittedly pretty rare

This is just so wrong. I think it manifestly unfair to distract or compromise the CSM in any way, but especially if one is a non-revenue non-entity employed by another carrier. The CSM has enough to do managing his or her crew and ensuring the comfort and safety of the other 400 or so people who have actually paid real money for their travel. If you want a better seat, do what 99.9% of the population does: pay for it. It's not that difficult!

I make no apologies for being so blunt. It's unacceptable to tempt or expect another to do the wrong thing.

There are plenty of seats blocked off so in Y you'll have enough room and you should get on.

If you didn't book a business upgradeable ticket (you didn't) then you won't get an upgrade. CSM isn't going to stick their neck out for you.

Gee Ken, I bet you're a joy to fly with :ok:

QF8 is a severely weight restricted flight and we night staff in AKL res are frequently called upon to offload pax from it. Neither the block or the "available seats" can be relied upon as indicators of likely onload.

Personally I wouldn't even try that flight, instead going via SFO.

Just buy a real ticket, or use points for an upgrade. I've abandoned my long service QF tickets...basically useless.